Display of selected printer response for distinct applications

1. A memory architecture for accessing a sequence of images stored in the form of bit maps of a combined response of at least an application and a peripheral device including means for storing a plurality of tables addresses in the form of a first set of tables, means for storing said bit maps in the form of a second set of tables, means for selecting a table from said second set of tables, and means for accessing at least one bit map containing a facsimile response of a combination of an application and a peripheral device within said table selected from said second set of tables responsive to a combination of parameters including one of said plurality of table addresses.

2. A memory architecture as recited in claim 1, further including means for storing sample images and default messages as bit maps in said second set of tables, means for determining if a bit map stored in said second set of tables corresponds to a selected combination of parameters, and means for selecting at least one of said sample images in response to said means for determining if a bit map stored in said second set of tables corresponds to a selected combination of parameters when a bit map corresponding to said selected combination of parameters is not found.

3. A memory architecture as recited in claim 1 wherein said table addresses correspond to selected combinations of application profiles and commands and said query parameters include printer identifications and character codes corresponding to a text string.

4. A system for previewing a portion of a document to be produced by a printer under control of a data processing means, said document including a text string, said system including means for displaying a plurality of menus, at least one of said menus displaying the identities of at least two printers connected to be controlled by said data processing means and at least another of said menus displaying at least some control commands which may be inserted in said document for controlling a selected printer, means for selecting at least one of a printer and a control command from one of said plurality of menus, means for storing images of each of a plurality of characters which may exist in said text string for each of at least two commands displayed in said menu displaying said control commands as said plurality of characters would be produced by at least one of said at least two printers and means responsive to said means-for selecting at least one of a printer and a control command for retrieving and displaying images corresponding to a sequence of characters in said text string corresponding to at least a selected command and a selected printer.

5. A system for previewing a portion of a document as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for storing images further includes means for storing a plurality of sample images and default messages and said means for retrieving images includes means for determining if images corresponding to a selected printer and a selected control command are present in said means for storing images for each character in said text string, said means for retrieving a sequence of characters further including means for selecting and displaying at least one image from said sample images and default messages.

6. A system for previewing a portion of a document as recited in claim 5 wherein said means for determining if images corresponding to a selected printer and a selected control command are present in said means for storing images includes a file allocation table.

7. A system for previewing a portion of a document as recited in claim 4, wherein said means for displaying a plurality of menus includes means for simultaneously displaying at least one window with said menus and said means for retrieving and displaying images includes means for displaying a sequence of said images in said window.

8. A system for previewing a portion of a document as recited in claim 7, wherein said means for storing images includes means for storing a plurality of bit maps of said images, each said bit map having a predetermined width, and said means for retrieving and displaying said images includes means for displaying said bit maps corresponding to a sequence of characters in said text string immediately adjacent one another in said window.

9. A system for previewing a portion of a document as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for storing images includes a means for storing table addresses correspond to selected combinations of application profiles and commands and said images are accessed in response to query parameters which include printer identifications and character codes corresponding to a text string.